Is it suitable for you?

There is a shortage of Celebrants for non-religious, secular Funeral, Wedding, Civil Partnerships & Baby Naming/Welcoming ceremonies.

With increasing demand for such services there are a number of training programmes available operated by other humanist groups, societies and associations. Most of them are unnecessarily costly, and we suspect many such training programmes are simply ways of raising money for the organisations involved.

The HCA is an association of experienced Celebrants of such ceremonies and most are associated with numerous humanist groups and societies. Each one is perfectly capable of determining whether another person has the right calibre for training to become a Celebrant and each one is less interested in the financial rewards than in the proper and careful promotion on a daily basis of the humanist cause.

Each Celebrant finds their work satisfying and well worth the sacrifice of time and effort that it takes to give their clients an excellent service.

The HCA set high standards.

Those wishing to become HCA associates with the principal goal of making it a lucrative income are not generally successful in their attempt to put ‘HCA’ after their name on business cards and other forms of self-promotion.

A suitable person for training & HCA affiliation should be

  1. Punctual Punctuality indicates reliability, trustworthiness and integrity.
  2. Selflessness Able to deal with people from a variety of backgrounds with sensitivity, understanding and empathy, be able to put them at ease and gain their confidence.
  3. English Language Have no difficulty in constructing an appropriate ceremony with correct punctuation, spelling and grammar, and give a well-presented copy of the ceremony to each client.
  4. Appearance Have the presence to emanate authority and to deal calmly with the unexpected, deliver the ceremony with dignity, and be mindful that you represent the client and are acting on their behalf not your own or any humanist group to which you belong.
  5. Practical Essentials To be suitably dressed for the occasion at all times whether meeting the client or delivering/performing a ceremony, have access to a computer, personal transport, landline & mobile telephone.
  6. Learning & Scholarship Although it is not a prerequisite that Trainee Celebrants (or experienced ones!) should have formal academic qualifications, (many of the vast improvements humanity has made over the past few hundred years have been created by people who never saw the inside of a university!) it is important that one should have a thorough grounding in the principles and ethics of the humanist cause and a good understanding of, and strong commitment, to it.

Becoming a Humanist Celebrant & HCA Associate . . .

To become a Celebrant of non-religious ceremonies through the HCA Training Programme

  1. Submit an essay comprehensively detailing your CV from leaving school/college to the present time. This should include a general outline of yourself as a personality, your general interests, and give reasons why you feel becoming a Celebrant of secular ceremonies is right for you. A good coloured photograph is useful but not essential.
  2. Submit your essay to the HCA. This will be studied by psychologist and one or more experienced Celebrants of non-religious ceremonies.
  3. Depending on their assessment of that essay the HCA will contact you with confirmation or rejection of your application . (The HCA is not obliged to give reasons for acceptance or rejection)
  4. If accepted the applicant will be required to forward a one-off Trainee Registration fee of £50 and the 12 month long training programme will commence once an experienced Celebrant accepts the applicant as a person they choose to train.
  5. The Trainee will be seconded to the Mentor as in Section (d) and both will work together closely for the training programme period.
  6. The Trainee will be required to pay directly to his/her Mentor the training fee the Mentor requests. The HCA is not responsible for the setting of such fee/s requested by each Mentor.

    Once accepted by a Mentor the Trainee will -

    1. Accompany their Mentor as they visit clients
    2. Accompany their Mentor as they conduct services
    3. Be guided and advised by their Mentor in all matters appertaining to dealing with clients and conducting of ceremonies.
    4. Assist their Mentor in every way possible and practicable in conducting services and dealing with clients.
    5. Be prepared to submit written reports about dealing with clients & conducting ceremonies as their Mentor directs.
    6. This training period to last for a 12 month period commencing from the date of acceptance for training by a Mentor.
  7. After the training programme is completed a confidential written assessment/report will be submitted by his/her Mentor to the HCA and depending on that assessment/report acceptance (or otherwise) HCA association depends. If application to join the HCA is rejected Trainees may appeal directly in writing to the HCA Principal if they feel reasons for rejection are unjustified.

Becoming a Celebrant of secular, non-religious ceremonies is NOT an easy-option to acquire financial rewards. It is often arduous and certainly time-consuming. Very high standards in courtesy, behaviour, speech and dress is absolutely essential, as is the ability to deal with people from all backgrounds and stations in life.

You will be dealing with people with very different ideas from your own as to how they wish their wedding to be conducted…

You will deal with baby naming ceremonies …

You will deal with parents who have lost a child ….

You will deal with people stricken and shocked, and often traumatised, by the death of a dearly loved member of their family ….

… and if you choose to be available to do so you may be invited to speak about humanism and your non-religious views at schools, at various local groups, societies and associations ….

But it is a rewarding, very satisfying, and worthwhile way of life!